Harper announces more funding for CSIS

TORONTO – Prime Minister Stephen Harper played up his tough-on-terrorism credentials Thursday, announcing a trifecta of measures aimed at beefing up the country’s ability to thwart violent jihad.

The measures, some previously announced in the budget, include more money for Canada’s spy agency and more scrutiny of foreign visitors.

“Jihadi terrorists have threatened Canada and Canadians by name and with a clarity that leaves no room for doubt,” Harper told a room filled with hand-picked observers.

“We are increasing our capacity to detect terrorists and terrorist plots, to choke off the financing that supports them, and to secure our borders against known and suspected terrorists who wish to enter.”

Among those on hand for the pre-election announcement at a north-end hotel were victims of terrorism, including Cindy Barkway, whose husband Dave died in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York.

“I truly hope that Canadians will be safer from these combined efforts,” Barkway said to applause.

During his speech, Harper repeated a familiar refrain: that his Conservatives are the only party that can be counted on to protect the security interests of Canadians.

“There’s a lot of talk about the terrorist threat,” Harper said. “Our Conservative government chooses to do something about it.”

Under the new measures, the federal government will commit $137 million more over five years to Canada’s Security and Intelligence Service, along with $41 million more a year afterward. The additional funding, Harper said, would allow CSIS to beef up its frontline capacity to counter terrorist threats and activities.

Some experts, however, have argued the earmarked money simply isn’t much given the current threat environment, especially with legislation giving the agency more power to stop Canadians from joining terror groups abroad, disrupt bank transactions, and secretly interfere with radical websites.

Recognizing that terrorists “need cash,” Harper also announced that Canada’s tax authorities will put more emphasis on uncovering terror-related financing and the charities and organizations behind the money flow.

The Canada Revenue Agency would get $10 million over five years to help it identify and shut down charities that finance terrorist activities.

The government also plans to expand biometric screening to all foreign citizens coming to Canada – Americans are exempt – including visitors who need visas, work or study permits and immigrants. The procedure is already required for travellers from about two dozen countries – such as Afghanistan, Syria and Egypt – but would apply to visitors from almost 150 others.

Harper said Canada already has access to biometric data collected by other countries and would share its data with them, but said privacy and legal standards will be in place to protect Canadians.

Privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien said protecting biometric information from inappropriate use is crucial.

“We would be very concerned if the information obtained for border control or immigration purposes was then used for other purposes or would be shared with other countries,” Therrien said in Ottawa. “We expect that there would be very clear rules on the transfer of that information for other purposes or to other countries.”

The identity-verification measures, which require legislative changes, are expected to take effect in 2018. The government will kick in $313 million over five years to support the new requirement but user fees will help recoup some of those costs.

Barkway, who was five months pregnant with her second child when 9/11 happened, said many more people – including other Canadians – have become victims of terrorism since that day.

Governments, she said, have to enact effective policies to prevent such atrocities.

8 comments on “Harper announces more funding for CSIS”

Throwing more money around (in this case, at the grubby security establishment) – check.
Prominent “ethnic” voters in background – check.
Announcement made in the 905 or Lower Mainland, BC area – check.
Communications banner with propagandistic “take home message” for those who might not comprehend anything more fulsome – check.

There’s the re-election election strategy in a nutshell. Unfortunately, we’ll be treated to one of these a week for the next few months, no doubt.

“Recognizing that terrorists ‘need cash,’ Harper also announced that Canada’s tax authorities will put more emphasis on uncovering terror-related financing and the charities and organizations behind the money flow.”

That bird-watching charity with the bee fetish better mind its Ps and Qs.

Harper did actually make the biggest fool of himself—by making sure the World press quoted him–Telling a Reagan line of ‘Putin, Get out of the Ukraine’ —so asinine–its embarrassing totally makes any Canadian with half a functioning brain wince in shame—Now he is giving money to the ‘can I create a job by acting like an idiot making the standard anti-West claims of propaganda’ that only Harper approves of…
Sickening, beyond asinine —will totally review who ever takes Harper’s anointed position—Bay street will pay too if anyone like Harper is put in under questionable ways and terms into a leadership position. I personally would boycott and have taken steps to do so—in banking, buying and avoiding any items I can only buy from corporations. I prefer to fix and re-use anyway –will also invest whatever I can in small and medium sized Canadian companies. Had more than enough…..